Metallic grave-vault.



PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905.

D. B. HISER.

METALLIC GRAVE VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED 3111.7 1905.

UNITED STATES Patented .rune 13,`19o5.

PATENT OEEIcE.

DANIEL B. HISER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPRING- FIELD METALLIC CASKET COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO.

METALLIC GRAVE-VAULT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,036, dated June 13', 1905. Application filed January 7, 1905. Serial No. 240,117.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL B. HISER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvem ents in Metallic Grave-Vaults,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in metallic grave-vaults, and especially to means for sealing same.

Metallic grave-vaults are usually supplied with automatic-locking internal fastening devices which when once locked prevent the vault from being' opened without destroying same. It is desirable in vaults of this kind to seal them hermetically against air and water, and for this purpose they are generally provided with laterally-extending flanges, forming a channel adapted to receive cement in a plastic state. Under certain conditions it becomes dililcult to seal the Vault when depending only on the internal fastenings. I have therefore provided means for positively forcing' the lid downward ontothe body of the vault, so as to bring the cover-flanges onto the cement in the cement-channel and compress the same therein, causing it to iiow into all the crevices and completely seal the vault.

The object of my invention is to provide means which will be cheap in construction, simple and eflicient in operation, and so arranged that only a single operation shall be required to bring the clamping devices into operative position and to set the device or to release said device and move it to such a position that it will not interfere with the removal of the vault-lid.

Tith the above primary and other incidental objects in view my invention consists ofthe constructions and combinations of parts or their equivalents hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is an end view of a grave-vault equipped with the locking devices, each of which is shown in its operated position. Fig. 2 is a side View of the locking device in its disengaged position. Fig. 3 is a front view of the device in a disengaged position. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the device in its operated or locked position. Fig. 5 shows a side view of the device in operated position. Fig'. 6 is a detail View.

Like parts are designated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views. y

The body portion of the vault is represented by a. Surrounding the body portion and in proximity to its upper edge is a lateral flange a', which forms the cement-channel. The lid a2 is provided with a corresponding flange a3, adapted to fit over the liange a when the vault-top a2 is in position.

At regular intervals along the sides and ends of the vault there are attached by rivets or otherwise to the lid a2 a series of brackets In, formed with a housing Mounted within the housing 7) is a sliding' block b2, havinga projection 3, which extends horizontally through a slotted opening b4 in the housing The projection 3, upon which are pivoted parts hereinafter described, is round throughout a portion of its length and flattened throughout the balance, as indicated in Fig. 6. The sliding block b2 is preferably, though not necessarily, slidingl y mounted on a rod 7/5 within the housing b', about which rod and above the block Z22 is placed a compression-spring The block b2 is further secured within the housing by being made of greater Width than the opening 5*. Pivoted upon the projection b3 is a cam c, provided with a cam-lever c. There y is provided an engaging hook-like member e,

which is formed with an eye in its upper' portion adapted to lit over the flattened portion of the projection b3 and is pivotally secured thereto through a pin e.

Secured to the vault-body a, below the flange a and at points corresponding to the brackets b on the lid, are a series of brackets d, each provided with a lug CZ', adapted to be engaged by the hook-like member e.

Formed on the side of the cam c and integral therewith is a supplementary cam-surface c2. This cam-surface c2 is adapted to operate on the inner surface e2 of the upper portion of the member e.

When the cam-arm c is moved to the disengaglng position, as 1n Fig. 3, the cam-surface c2 will contact with the surface e2 below the piv otal connection c' and move the engaging member e outwardly upon its pivotal connection until the hool; portion c3 will clear the lug d. As the cam-lever c' is moved toward the position shown in Figs. l and dthe cam c, acting on the lower portion 57 of the bracket b, which is extended laterally over the flange a3 to form a bearing for said cam, will force the sliding block L2, and therewith the engaging member c, upward until the portion @3 of the member e tightly engages the lug CZ, thus drawing the vault-body and lid together and compressing the cement within the channel until it flows into all the crevices, thus hermetically sealing the vault. However, before the portion e3 engages the lug Z the cam-surface c2 will contact the surface e2 above the pivotal point c' and will by forcing' the upper portion of the member c outwardly cause the lower end to swing inwardly until the portion e3 is directly below the lug al and in position to engage same. The movement of the lower end of the member c inwardly to engaging position is further assisted through gravity. The upper portion of the member, wherein it is pivoted to the projection 713, is offset toward the vault, thus causing' the member c to swing inwardly when the cam-surface is withdrawn from engagement therewith, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen that there is thus provided a simple efficient device which will positively draw the vault-lid into proper contact with the vaultbody and one wherein a single operation is sufficient to engage or disengage and move said device to a non-interfering position.

Having thus described my invention, l claima l. ln a device as described, the combination with a two-piece vault, of a movable engaging member on one of said portions, a lug to be engaged on the other portion, and a cam to move said engaging member into operative position, substantially as specified.

2. In a device as described, a two-piece vault, an engaging member on one of said portions, a lug to be engaged on the other of said portions, a cam adapted to move said engaging member vertically, and a supplementary cam-face on said cam adapted to move said engaging member laterally, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a grave-vault and a cover therefor, of a movable pivoted clamping member on said cover, a lug on said vault, and a cam adapted to move said pivoted clamping member into operative position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. 1n a clamping device for the purpose specified, a vertically-movable pivoted clamping member, a lug cooperating with said member, means for moving said clamping member in a vertical direction, and means for simultaneously moving said member on its pivotal connection, substantially as specified.

5. In a clamping device for the purpose specified, a vertically-movable pivoted clamping member, a lug to be engaged by said mem ber, a lever for elevating said clamping member into engagement with said lug, and means connected with said lever for moving said engaging member to a non-interfering position when said member is lowered to its depressed position, substantially as specified.

G. In a clamping device for grave-vaults, a lug on the vault-body, a housing on the vaultlid, a slidable member having a lateral pro jection thereon in said housing, an engaging member, and an operating-cam pivoted on said lateral projection, substantially as specified.

7. ln a clamping device for the purpose specified, the combination with a lug, an engaging' member and operating-cam therefor, of a spring-pressed movable support for said engaging member and operating-cam, substantially as specified.

8. In a clamping device for the purpose specified, the combination with a vault and lid therefor, of a lug, an engaging member, an operating-lever therefor, and means for movn ing said engaging member to interfering or non-interfering positions by the single operation of said' operating-lever, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of December, A. D. 1904.

DANIEL B. HISER. l/Vitnesses:

CHAs. I. WELCH, F. LLEWELLYN WALKER. 

